I think we usually hear this things come out of people's mouths when they believe that what they do is by definition "fighting" and deserving of the ultimate status and anything else is somehow less.

When faced with the reality of putting up or shutting up, I am glad that FM chose appropriately. He recognized that neither are the ultimate. They are simply different.

In the non combat sports world, it is like comparing Olympic Runners or Cyclists with Tri-athletes. The specialists may smoke the Tri-athletes in the run or bike portion but then again they might drown in the swim.

Interesting debate, but it comes from an ignorant/arrogant quote. Someone should tell Floyd that boxing is for guys who can't make it in the NFL. It's a bigger sport(by the numbers) and there's just as much money in it if not more for the top pros. It would be interesting to hear his response, then again I'm tired of hearing his mouth.

_________________________
The more I learn, the more everything is the same.

Quote:Interesting debate, but it comes from an ignorant/arrogant quote. Someone should tell Floyd that boxing is for guys who can't make it in the NFL. It's a bigger sport(by the numbers) and there's just as much money in it if not more for the top pros. It would be interesting to hear his response, then again I'm tired of hearing his mouth.

Yes it was arrogant. And he duly apologized for it. End of story IMHO.

In the USA, you may have a point. I think some bigger men turn to boxing when their basketball/ American Football careers don't pan out. Michael Grant and Jameel McCline spring to mind.

But for most other heavyweights outside of the USA, it isn't a consideration. Most other non-heavyweight boxers box because they want to, not because they are, as you seem to believe, less than capable in other sports. What about all those people who box but don't do it for money? Amateur boxers far outweigh the number of pros in the world. So finacial consdierations don't come in to deciding what sport they participate in.

Muhammed Ali was asked in High School to play American Football. He told the coach he wasn't interested in American Football, because he was a boxer.

Many other people have made similar choices. No one sport is better than the other. And as has been pointed out, when you start judging a sport or it's atheltes purely by the money they make, well, that is a dubious barometer of their ability.

I am through. Kimo's whole argument is based purely on his own suppositions and assumptions of what he thinks another athlete is about when the athlete himself has acknowledged his own shortcomings. "In his heart he feels"...How the heck would you have any idea what this man feels in his heart????

The matter was closed when Mayweather acknowledged the fact that he would not want to compete in the same arena as these athletes. END OF STORY. No other arguement you (Kimo) may have will over shadow that comment.

Scottie

_________________________"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be."

Agreed, Scottie. And how does he know that elite athletes aren't drawn to a given sport? World class swimmers are drawn to that sport because its' the one they want to do. The "second rate" baseball players are better than "second rate" cyclists? I suppose Mike Tyson could be a world class skier, huh? Or does skiing not count because there is not enough money in it?

Sorry, Kimo. I do give you props for being very civilized in your arguments. But you are just plain flat wrong.

_________________________"In case you ever wondered what it's like to be knocked out, it's like waking up from a nightmare only to discover it wasn't a dream." -Forrest Griffin

Quote:And how does he know that elite athletes aren't drawn to a given sport?

Exactly. Earlier it was said that many MMA guys were thugs or bouncers or the such, which I'm sure there are some but are far shadowed by many who have other careers. Many of these people love to fight and are good at it. Why not take those skills to somewhere that you can make money? Randy "The Natural" Couture is an elite fighter as do I believe Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell is. I could name many others but the point is those that rise to the top are the elite athletes in that given sport. They won't be the only ones and years from now many will also rise but it doesn't make these people any less an elite athlete. And I guaran-god-dam-tee you that many will come in boxing that will surpass Mayweather. Heck he only won by a decision of 2 out of 3 judges to De La Hoya so he isn't that great when you compare their ages. In fact I would put De La Hoya as the over all elite athlete of the two as he has been doing it longer and better.

Kimo it is almost like you have a fascination for Mayweather or some vested interest. I'm not dismissing all that you have said but I do believe you are being narrow minded when it comes to the bottom line. That you dismiss the MMA fighters currently saying that none of them are elite athletes is crazy. That money has some bearing on this is untrue because many sports pay very poorly, just look at Canadian Football (CFL). The argument that down the road elite athletes will show up can be said about every sport but does not dismiss the fact that there are already elite athletes today who will still be elite athletes of tomorrow in their halls of fame.

_________________________"IF I COME ... I'M BRINGING THE PAIN WITH ME"